Senator Patty Murray (above) is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Monday, in Seattle, she'll be announcing new legislation.
MONDAY: VETERANS: Murray in Seattle to Unveil New Mental Health Legislation
Iraq and Afghanistan veteran will share his story of having his PTSD diagnosis overturned
(Washington, D.C.) -- On Monday, July 2, 2012, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, will hold a press conference at the Seattle Nisei
Veterans Center to discuss her new service members and veterans mental health
legislation, the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012. This legislation comes as the Pentagon begins a comprehensive military-wide review, which Senator Murray urged [Defense]
Secretary [Leon] Panetta to conduct on diagnoses for the invisible wounds of war dating
back to 2001.
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, will hold a press conference at the Seattle Nisei
Veterans Center to discuss her new service members and veterans mental health
legislation, the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012. This legislation comes as the Pentagon begins a comprehensive military-wide review, which Senator Murray urged [Defense]
Secretary [Leon] Panetta to conduct on diagnoses for the invisible wounds of war dating
back to 2001.
The misdiagnosis of behavioral health conditions has been a constant
problem for soldiers at Madigan Army Medical Center, where to date over 100 soldiers
and counting have had their correct PTSD diagnosis restored following reevaluation.
Stephen Davis, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who had his initial diagnosis of PTSD overturned, will speak at the press conference with his his wife to share his experience.
problem for soldiers at Madigan Army Medical Center, where to date over 100 soldiers
and counting have had their correct PTSD diagnosis restored following reevaluation.
Stephen Davis, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who had his initial diagnosis of PTSD overturned, will speak at the press conference with his his wife to share his experience.
The legislation seeks to address problems with DOD and VA mental
health care identified during multiple hearings of Senator Murray's
Veterans Affairs Committee. Specifically,
Senator Murray's Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012 would require DOD to create a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program, expand eligibility for a
variety of VA mental health services to family members, improve training and
education for our health care providers, create more peer to peer counseling
opportunities, and require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental
health services. More about Senator Murray's bill HERE.
Senator Murray's Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012 would require DOD to create a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program, expand eligibility for a
variety of VA mental health services to family members, improve training and
education for our health care providers, create more peer to peer counseling
opportunities, and require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental
health services. More about Senator Murray's bill HERE.
WHO: U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Sergeant David Leavitt
Sergeant First Class Stephen Davis and his wife Kim Davis
Michele Smith, wife of Sergeant Shannon Smith
WHAT: Press conference to unveil the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012
WHEN: Monday, July 2, 2012
1:30 PM PT
WHERE: Seattle Nisei Veterans Center
1212 South King Street
Seattle, WA 98144
Map
###
Kathryn Robertson
Specialty Media Coordinator
Specialty Media Coordinator
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2834